26o Management and Treatment of the Horse. 



flammation of the mucous membrane is accom- 

 panied with yiolent purging, too often from over- 

 doses of physic being administered, or from acid 

 generated in the bowels by a bad quality of food, 

 or from other unknown causes. In addition to 

 purging, considerable pain attends this disease, 

 which is indicated by the animal looking round 

 at its flanks, with a heaviness in its breathing, 

 accompanied by quick, feeble pulse, and hot 

 mouth, ears, and legs. This is a complaint 

 mostly met with in high-fed horses, as indeed are 

 most cases of inflammation. High feeding has 

 a tendency to induce inflammation. The sudden 

 exposure of high-fed animals to a warm from 

 a cold atmosphere, and being allowed to drink 

 plentifully of cold water when in a heated con- 

 dition, or having their bellies and legs wetted 

 when in an overheated condition, are all causes 

 that induce this complaint. This is a point in 

 the management of the stable that the groom 

 should never overlook. The horse should upon 

 no account have a quantity of water given it 

 directly after a hard journey ; one quart of water 

 is quite enough until the animal has had some 

 corn or sweet hay, then more water and more 

 food may be given with safety. After washing 

 the horse, see that it is rubbed dry, it is always 

 better to let the dirt remain on than to wash 

 it and not rub it perfectly dry. Many owners 

 of horses will not allow their horses to be washed 

 after a hard run with the hounds, upon the 

 ground of preventing the chances of inflamma- 

 tion. It is not the washing that induces it so 



